Exeter boasts one of just a handful of Heritage Harbours in the UK, which are places of historic maritime significance that retain original features, buildings and facilities which help connect the public to the area’s maritime past. To celebrate Exeter's national designation as a 'Heritage Harbour' the city is hosting a series of maritime events this year. The year of celebrations launches this May with a cultural festival, culminating on Sunday 28 May and featuring events for all of the family, many of them completely free. Expect live cannon firing, shanty bands and live music,...
Vital work to keep the Exe Estuary free of navigational obstructions has been carried out by the city’s Harbour Patrol Team.
The Team, who work for the City Council as part of the city’s Port Authority, spent much of Sunday night re-floating a 28ft abandoned yacht on the banks of the River Exe near Turf Lock.
The yacht had been left to decay in the water and was considered a navigational danger to other vessels in the estuary, as well as a threat to wildlife and the environment.
The Team, under the watchful eye of Harbour Master Grahame Forshaw, waited for high...
Urgent works are to be carried out on Salmonpool Swing Bridge throughout March with the bridge and Clapperbrook Lane East – crossing Exeter Ship Canal – closed to traffic.
The closure will start tomorrow – Wednesday 3 March – and remain in place until Wednesday 31 March. The bridge is set to reopen on Thursday 1 April.
A temporary foot and cycle bridge will be installed over the canal. Any cars on the far side of the bridge will need to be removed before Thursday.
The works will involve lifting the bridge out and into the Valley Park Car Park, where the...
Exeter Ship Canal and its Basin have been awarded prestigious national status by leading maritime authorities.
Britain’s oldest ship canal – part of the Port of Exeter – has been named a Heritage Harbour, one of only four historic harbours in the UK so far to be given the status.
The title was awarded by the Maritime Heritage Trust and National Historic Ships UK following an application from The Friends of Exeter Ship Canal.
Heritage Harbour status is recognition of the importance of the canal to Exeter and the long-term benefits its heritage will have for the...
It was always a bit of a tussle between Devon and London. Teignmouth born Solicitor Advocate Rachel Smith (pictured above) loved her job in London and her ability to support her beloved Chelsea Football club. But she also knew she wanted to return home to her family and her roots in Devon.
So she made a decision: instead of the frequent commuting to Devon at weekends, she decided to find the right job in Exeter and travel in reverse to Chelsea matches.
Rachel who’s 29, knew the moment she set foot in Rundlewalker offices on Exeter Quayside, that this was the place to be....
Police were called just before 12.50pm yesterday (Wednesday 28 December 2016) after reports of a body of a man being found in the canal on The Quay, Exeter.
The body is male, thought to be in his 60s but he has not yet been formally identified.
Enquiries are underway to identify the man.
Police are not treating this death as suspicious.
A police cordon was set up yesterday whilst the body was recovered, assisted by the police dive team.
If anyone has any information about this incident police would like to hear from them. Please email 101@dc.police....
Devon County Council has invested over £60,000 in a new boat to help rangers deal with the increasing problem of weed growth in the Grand Western Canal.
The canal and country park, which is managed by the County Council, is surrounded by farmland, which means the water is nutrient rich and excessive amounts of water plants and algae grow.
Councillor Roger Croad, Devon County Council’s Cabinet Member responsible for the Grand Western Canal, explains: “Removing weeds is an essential part of maintaining the canal as they suppress the growth of less dominant plants, and can...
Essential work is to be carried out to the canal bridges on Bridge Road in Exeter next month (August).
On Monday 10 August and Tuesday 11 August, inspections and maintenance work will be undertaken on the swing bridge. Contraflow arrangements will be in place, with all traffic using the bascule bridge.
From Wednesday 12 August to Monday 17 August, the contraflow will run on the swing bridge, as the timber joint between the bascule bridge and the road will be replaced and upgraded with a reinforced concrete and stainless steel structure.
After the success of last year’s festival, plans are well underway for the second year of Exefest – Exeter Canalside Folk Festival.
Headliner Melrose Quartet, nominated for Best Group at the 2014 BBC Radio 2 Folk Awards, is the coming-together of multi-award winning duo Nancy Kerr and James Fagan, and legendary Sheffield duo Richard and Jess Arrowsmith.
Also featured are Luke Jackson, nominated for both the Young Folk Award and the Horizon Award at the 2013 Folk Awards, and newcomers The Dovetail Trio and The Black Hares.
